Wetumpka council approves franchise, staffing items and airport event; several purchases set for next meeting

The Wetumpka City Council on a series of routine and time-sensitive votes approved a franchise ordinance, staffing job descriptions and a community aviation event, and voted to suspend rules to approve an air-conditioning unit and right-of-way work.

Key outcomes

- Ordinance 2025-9: The council approved an ordinance granting Troy Cablevision a nonexclusive franchise agreement. The ordinance was on its second reading on the agenda and the council voted by voice; the motion carried.

- Police contract authority: The council granted permission for the police department to enter into a contract described in the agenda as "lexicon" (text as listed in the meeting packet). The item was on its second appearance on the agenda and the motion carried by voice vote.

- Job descriptions: The council approved three personnel items included in the packet: the controller job description; a pump controller job description; and the position of field operations assistant to the director of public works. Each was discussed previously and approved by voice vote.

- Air-conditioning unit, Administration Building: After a motion to suspend the rules, council members conducted a roll-call vote and approved purchase of a 7.5-ton air-conditioning unit for the Administration Building server room at a cost of $17,826. The roll call recorded "Yes" votes from Council members Robins, Tucker, Justice, Gant, Brown and Dan.

- Nolan Way right-of-way improvements: Council suspended the rules to consider this first-time item and voted to move forward with the improvement project; council members voted by roll call in favor (Robins, Tucker, Justice, Gant, Brown and Dan recorded as "Yes"). The agenda described the item as first time on the agenda and requested expedited consideration.

- Service agreement for garbage truck: A service agreement for a garbage truck at a cost of $6,495 was listed as new business but, because it was the first time on the agenda, the council deferred final action to the next meeting.

- Additional lights for downtown trees: Approval of additional lights (cost listed as $6,397) was on the agenda for the first time and was moved to the next meeting for action.

- Axon contract update: Permission for the police department to update a contract with Axon was listed as first time on the agenda and will be taken up at the next meeting.

- Wetumpka Community Airport special event: The council granted permission for "EAS chapter 8 22" to host a Young Eagles flight event at the Wetumpka Community Airport on Nov. 1, 2025. The motion carried by voice vote.

Votes were recorded as voice votes for many routine agenda items; where the council suspended rules to act the meeting used roll call and the members present recorded unanimous "Yes" votes for those measures. The meeting minutes do not identify movers and seconders for every motion; when recorded, motions and seconds were entered into the minutes as "motion" and "second." The council adjourned after approving the listed items.